Missing In Action

This article is for you, the church. It is aimed especially at this congregation that meets here at Pulaski St. I hope others who read it will take some good things from it that they can add to their faith.

We had snow Sunday. I was pleased that our attendance was 187, (29 better than 158), our attendance the last time we had a snow like this one. Our giving this week, by the 187 was over $6,500.00. I was also very pleased to see that, and I commend those of you who were here for giving so freely.

I am not a person who cares much about money. I never have been. While I know I need it to survive, I also know the Lord will provide. So this article is not about money. This is about our relationship with God.

The weekly contribution is a spiritual barometer with regard to the local body. It says a good deal about the relationship between the church and the Lord. What does $6,500.00 from 187 people tell us? It tells us we have a core of people who are very dedicated to the Lord. It also tells us we have about 200 people who are holding back from God. We have been averaging about $8,500.00 a week recently. Do the math. This is plain talk, my brethren. I write these things to encourage you and because you need to examine yourselves (2 Cor. 13:5).

When we come together each first day of the week, are we participating in every aspect of worship? Some do not sing. Some do not pray with the one who leads. Some are not listening to the Bible as it is read and preached. Almost everybody freely participates in the Lord's Supper (most definitely want that). And it is obvious that many are MIA when it is time to give to God.

The Bible does not prescribe the exact amount that we should give. But it does include that we should give as we have been prospered (1 Cor. 16:2). It says that will will reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7). It tells us to lay by in store (1 Cor. 16:2). And we are reminded not to give out of compulsion but to offer it freely and thankfully to God, because God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7).

This next week, I challenge those of you who were absent to give both what you needed to give last week combined with what you ought to give this week. I also challenge those of you who are not giving enough on a regular basis to pray about it and open your hearts. Finally, to those who are faithfully giving I say continue in the work that you are doing, because in due season we will reap if we faint not (Gal. 6:9).

Let's not be absent from the worship of our God while we are present in the building. God gave us His only Son that we might live. What do we own? What do we have that does not belong to Him?

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." ~ Malachi 3:8